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Top things to do in Morocco
Camp and stargaze in the Sahara desert, trek in the diverse Atlas mountains and haggle in the busy souks where unique handmade goods are plentiful. The Roman ruins of Volubilis have beautiful mosaics waiting to be adored, whilst traditional Moroccan riads are a paradise worth visiting to understand the way of Medina living.
Here are the top things to do on a Morocco holiday, as chosen by our Middle East specialists.
Camp in the desert
Just a short drive from the dusty town of Merzouga, gateway to the Sahara desert, are several traditional yet comfortable desert camps. Race across the desert in specialist vehicles, and explore the surrounds on a camel trek. See a glorious sunset over the 800-foot sand dunes of Erg Chebbi, marvel at the countless numbers of stars and constellations of the night sky, and wake early for a magnificent sunrise.
Haggle in the souks
Make space in your suitcase as a huge array of handicrafts can be bought in the souks in Morocco at bargain prices, if you are prepared to barter a little bit. Beautiful earthenware tagines, hand-painted dishes, leather goods, slippers, shawls and scarves are just some of the items on offer.
See the Roman ruins of Volubilis
Explore Morocco's best-preserved Roman ruins, the Unesco world heritage site of Volubilis near Meknes. Set within rolling fertile fields, this was a prosperous town on the very fringes of the empire. Some of the beautiful mosaics which adorned the fine town houses can still be seen today.
Stay in a riad
A riad is a traditional Moroccan house with an interior courtyard and garden (the word ‘ryad’ meaning ‘garden’ in Arabian). They are found throughout the old medinas of Morocco’s towns and cities and many have been converted into luxurious boutique hotels. Staying in a riad will give you an insight into traditional ways of living within the Medina.
Trek in the Atlas mountains
After the hustle and bustle of the medinas and souks, get away from it all in the mountains. The High Atlas is the biggest mountain range in North Africa, and has many fertile valleys, rivers and waterfalls. Go trekking and explore Berber villages, returning at the end of the day to the boutique delights of Kasbah du Toubkal or the sumptuous surroundings of Kasbah Tamadot. Approximately one hour’s drive from Marrakech, the Atlas can be visited as a day trip or as part of a longer itinerary.
